Making Conn-ections with 3 Locations in 3 Days

Anyone who was a kid in the 1980s is likely familiar with Miss Rumphius, the titular children’s book character who was a global traveler determined to make the world a more beautiful place by planting flowers. Anyone who’s driven through Killingworth, Connecticut, is likely familiar with a couple doing just that at Lavender Pond Farm, where free admission guarantees lovely views, smells and a stroll through some of the state’s most peaceful scenery. Wander the manicured gardens and enjoy learning more about the 14 varieties of purple plants here before hearing how owners Denise and Chris Salafia were inspired by Barbara Cooney’s tale.

Lavender Pond Farm, Connecticut © Carley Wade

Like Miss Rumphius, a visit here will have you wanting to travel, too; although most locations on an easy three-day Connecticut tour may be mostly familiar as signs on the highway, there is a lot to discover just beyond the exits in capital Hartford, seaside Madison and contemporary New Haven.

Coming from the north, the golden State House dome gleams and you’ll want to check out the Goodwin Hotel, reimagined just last year. The original 1881 façade remains with classic flair, but inside, a palette of blue and gray tones gently balances masculine and feminine, flair with the debonair. Spacious accommodations include one- and two-bedroom duplexes, suites and standard guestrooms, all with original wood closets and doors and neat tile work. Rooms are anything but standard, however, and the dining at Porron is just as much a palate-pleaser, too; sample chef Tyler Anderson’s Spanish-inspired menu and it’s easy to see why he was nominated for five James Beard awards.

My husband and I were fortunate enough to travel during Taste of Hartford (mid- to late-July each year) and $30 includes three courses so you can spent a bit more on an extra drink or two since you won’t have to drive. Bar Pina’s creative cocktails are served in a living room-like setting where the full dinner menu is also available. In the morning, the bar is neatly converted into a coffee shop concept and serves up tasty artisanal donuts, a true Cinderella transformation from something sexy to whimsical. Grab a brew before trekking through the park near the State House; we were lucky enough to happen upon the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, the largest free jazz festival in New England, making a great price for both dinner and the shows.

Hartford is also home to one of the trendiest forms of group-outing or date-night entertainment as of late: axe throwing. Discover your inner lumberjack and purge your stress demons with a solid hour of throwing a log-splitter at a bull’s eye-like board at Pine & Iron. The up-and-coming Parkville district also features Hog River Brewing Co. in the same building, although you’ll want to try your tossing skills before tossing a delicious beer back.

It’s important to maintain pace, however, for the day’s adventures. Keep it to one before heading to Branford for Rain Wellness Spa’s other relaxation trend du jour: a Himalayan salt cave. Even if you’re a light sleeper, the dim lighting, soft music and man-made stalactites set a scene, along with some cushy blankets and chairs that recline at a full first-class cabin angle. No matter how sunny it is outside, you’re unlikely to want to leave until rationale takes over.

Wharf restaurant Madison © Carley Wade

The beach isn’t too far away if you’re heading to Madison, where you can continue lazing at the Tidewater Inn B&B – or grab one of the complimentary passes for three nearby beaches and put your feet in the salt and sand. There’s not too much going on in this sleepy little town besides some shopping, dining and a two-screen movie theater, but isn’t getting away from it all just what you intended, anyway? It’s easy to spend most of the evening enjoying a cocktail or glass of wine on the porch at Madison Beach Hotel, whose few dozen rooms all have ocean-facing views. If you’re not lucky enough to grab one in high season (prices start at $400 mid-week), admire the views from the dining room and feast on local catch of striper, plucked fresh from the waters of Long Island Sound that lap the shore.

The next day you may be surprised to find yourself hungry again, but when the scent of Frank Pepe’s beckons, you’ve got to heed the call. The famous family-owned pizza joint is part of the fabric of New Haven (it’s impossible not to imagine generations of Yale students cramming for finals while cramming their faces). A 20-minute drive is just a world away, and there’s a new world view at the university’s two free cultural hot spots: the university Art Gallery and the Yale Center for British Art. Wandering them could take all afternoon (the former offers four floors alone), but you’ll want to save room for a sweet treat at the end. The PEZ Visitor Center is less than 15 minutes away on I-95, the perfect stop on your road trip homebound for some throwback fun.